Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-03
Potato Growing.


The best crops. of potatoes that ha We
ever seeu have invaribly been planted on
soils varying between sandy and clay
loan. On heavy land, especially when
not under-draine d, the crops have been
poor and unproductive. the seed often
rotting in the ground and not coming up,
except in occasional spots. Such land
destined for potatoes should be thorough
~ drained with tiles, as the cost will in
the END be much less than that resulting
from an entire failure of the potatoes.
lie the farm is SO situated that part of
the soil is heavy and the other part light,
the owner would do well to select the soil
which is not quite heavy enough to need
draining for his potato field, and in a
dry or wet season he will then stand a
good chance of raising a successful crop.
The ground will need to be finely pull
verified with the plow and harrow before
the seed is put in. Fall blowing for pota-
toes will not be of much benefit; it re-
mains, however, optional with the farmer
for it certainly will do no harm. The
ground can be worked over in the spring,
until it is devoid of all Jumps and sods.
Plow deep, as deep soil, deeply plowed,
is undoubtedly best for potato growing.
In the selection and cutting of seeds
there is one invaluable rule to follow that
L have found applies in almost all cases.
Select the potato with respect to size and
quality, that come the nearest to your
ideal of potatoes; that is, take the medium
and large potatoes for your seed, and not
the small ones or the exclusively large
ones only. If a whole large potato, and
a whole small potato are planted at the
same time there will be no appreciate
difference in the size of the yield. The
best yield is obtained when the half of a
good, medium-slzed potato is used for
seed. If not selected at digging time the
preceding summer, they should be picked
out at once, and placed in a dark place
where the sprouts will have chance to
start.
Potatoes for seed should be cut on the
day of planting, and not several days be-
forehand. When kept, even for a day,
considerable risk is run by the farmer.
Cut only as many as are needed for one
days planting, and those that are left
over feed to the cattle, rather than use
them for seed. More loss from potato
growing is caused by this practice of cut
ting up all the seed at once, than many
imagine, and experience has taught large
growers that they cannot afford to run the
risk that is involved in the work, even
though it saves time and labor.
Manuring the potato field properly re-
quires Judgment and experience. The
soils of farms differ so in their compost
tions that the mode of treatment that
would apply to ono field would not answer
for another. Some crops, such as corn
and vines, want their manure near the
To- Of l,t
utilize it when it is some distance down.
To mix it up well with the lower soil,
then, will require its application in the
fall, SO that it can leach through gradu-
ally during the winter months. The rains
and SHOWS will work it into the surface Of
the soil, and the pillow in the spring
will turn it over, and put it in the proper
place for the roots Of the potatoes. The
manure should be we'll rotted before being
spread on the field, SO that none of its
richness can be dissipated by evapora-
ton, or blown away by the Winds. IF suf-
ficlent quantities are put on the field in
the fall, it will be unnecessary to spread
any manure in the hills, as the roots of
the potatoes will surely find the nourish
ing substances, if placed low enough
down for them. Besides, this method
saves considerable labor.
The relative value of commercial fertiI-
1zers and barn-yard manure, is variously
estimated for potatoes; but the best re-
suits have been obtained from the latter,
when applied in the proper condition. 1t
should be rotten, very rotten, and all
large Jumps fined down, and spread evenly
over the ground. Coarse fibrous sub
stances, such as straw, that have not been
decomposed sufficiently, will be blown off
the field In the winter, and a material loss
occasicned in other ways. Rotten stable
manure will increase the yield of pota-
toes every time, while commercial fertil-
lzers will sometimes fail on certain soils.
The best way is for each farmer to expe-
r1ment IN his own way, using both com
mercial and homemade fertilizers, on a
small scale, and govern his actions in ac-
cordance with the result.
THE HOUSEHOLD
RYE MUFFINS.
One pint -four, one pint ryemeal, two
tablespoonfuls yeast; milk enough to
make a thick batter.